Painter's work 'speaks for itself'

Terry Reed, Millersburg, paints residential and commercial structures as a profession, but when the job entails restorative painting, he is an artist.

"I enjoy restoration a lot and I like working around the public," said Reed, who used authentic Victorian colors to re-create the past era of the Village of Millersburg by restoring the storefronts of most of the downtown businesses, including The Hotel Millersburg and Young Music and Sound. Pending are three more restoration projects in the village. He also has restored store fronts in Loudonville and Coshocton.

"I do everything -- lacquer finishes, epoxy. But my specialty is aluminum, metal and Victorian trim. That's where I get into restoration. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to take something that looks bad and turn it into a masterpiece," Reed said.

Liz Young of Young Sound & Music commends the results of Reed's labor. "He really had a big job. He had to scrape all those window sills and the windows are so high. He did good work and it turned out real well," she said.

Four years ago, Reed brought his 40-foot ladder to Millersburg, and began the project of painting the former Sears building that now houses Main Office Supply on West Jackson Street. This was his first job in Holmes County and it "lit a spark."

"I've been on fire ever since. Sometimes I have to turn work away because I'm too busy," he said.

The painter said he received several job offers while working in Millersburg. "A lot of people were friendly and stopped to talk," he said. A man who just happened to be passing through town saw his work and was so impressed, he came back later looking for Reed. His recommendation led to an extensive restoration project on two Victorian houses at Roscoe Village in Coshocton. He also re-painted two privately owned Victorian residences in Coshocton.

"A lot of times people have me pick the colors for these projects. Sometimes, they choose, but I try to direct them in another way if I feel it doesn't look right," he said. The intricate trim on Victorian houses can call for as many as five different colors for an authentic restoration. For one home, he used gray, burgundy, pink, light green and white. The project took six weeks.

"I go by the configuration of the house. There are many different ways to put colors on a Victorian house that has three or four different types of trim," he said. "It can be very time-consuming to do it right and give it a thorough paint job the owner will accept and be happy with."

The projects often require hours of preparation work, including minor carpentry such as replacing pieces of trim. Much of this work is done by helpers, but Reed says he is "the paint man."

"I am very particular how it's done. I like to be a perfectionist," he said. "When you get into a multi color trim, it takes time. You have to go around a lot of corners. Once I did ornamental trim that had 300 little squares. I had to put in a base color then accent them all."

Base colors are sometimes sprayed, but Victorian trims are all done by hand using brushes that range in size from one-half inch to 3 1/2 inches. He uses his computer to match paint or has it done professionally.

Reed spent 16 years in factory work, sometimes painting in spray booths, including 10 years at Volvo GM. When that job ended, the Millersburg man said he "had no idea what I would do next" and "no clue I would be a painter."

His career began when he agreed to help a friend who was working for a painter. He completed only one job for his employer, and decided to go on his own. He was hired in 1994 to paint a commercial building, which "turned out quite well," and launched a whole new career for Reed, who based his business in Loudonville.

"I was fortunate things went my way. Things have gotten better every year since then," he said. Reed prides himself on his work, that "speaks for itself." An extra voice is added by satisfied customers who pass the word along. His expertise has taken him all over Ohio. His work has included commercial buildings in Holmes County and barn painting, which has sometimes proven to be a precarious job, he said.

Reed said he has worked seven-day weeks during the summer painting new homes. Experience has taught him not to over book exterior painting past September. In the winter, the painter works on interiors, mostly in new houses, assisted by his employees. His next large project will be a 10,000-square-foot building in New Philadelphia.